KEOLIS Netherlands has submitted an open-access request to the Dutch rail regulator (ACM) to run overnight services between Zwolle and Nijmegen in the northeast of the country.
The proposed services, which will run on Friday and Saturday nights only from January 1 2027, will make 14 intermediate stops, including at Deventer and Arnhem. Keolis has proposed a combination of rolling stock to operate the services: locomotive-hauled passenger coaches, a Stadler Flirt3 EMU and a heritage Plan V two-car EMU, a train type finally withdrawn by Netherlands Railways (NS) in April 2016.
Departures from Zwolle are planned at 01.25 and 02.55, with arrivals at Nijmegen at 02.49 and 04.19. In the opposite direction, the first train departs from Arnhem Central at 01.24, arriving in Zwolle at 02.30, while the second northbound service departs Nijmegen at 03.06, arriving at Zwolle at 04.30. Connections would be available at Zwolle with Groningen - Amsterdam - Schiphol Airport open-access services.
Keolis is the fourth passenger operator to apply to run open-access night trains on the Dutch network, following applications from NS, Arriva and QBuzz. If its proposal is approved, Keolis will then need to confirm that train paths are available with Dutch infrastructure manager ProRail.
Keolis currently operates regional passenger services on three routes: Zwolle - Enschede, Zwolle - Kampen, and Amersfoort Central - Ede-Wageningen.
